iPhone 4S Allows Apple to Close Gap on Android as New Smartphone Users Favour iOS

The launch of the iPhone 4S reignited consumers' fanatacism with Apple's smartphone. In October, before its release, just 25% of consumers upgrading their dumb phones to smartphones chose an iPhone, according to new research from Nielsen. But this number skyrockered to 45% in December as the new iPhone flew off the shelves.

Still, Apple's older technology retains value incredibly: 40% of people buying new iPhones still buy a 4 or 3GS model, Nielsen's data reveals. In fact, the 3GS model, which is now more than two years old—an eternity in today's tech space—still outsells the most popular and current Android handsets.

(Note: Data is American. Numbers are slightly different in Canada.)